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RELIGION AND WAR IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Pauletta Otis
(Originally published as a chapter in Religion: The Missing Dimension of Security,
Rowman and Littlefield, 2004.)
The 21st Century will be a time of religious violence and warfare. As religious zealots
and opportunists use the power inherent in religious ideology and escalate the forms, levels,
and types of violence, there is potential for devastation and destruction unknown in
human history.
Although religion has long been a contributing factor in all warfare, providing the
parameters of jus bello and jus en bello, it is emerging (or re-emerging) as the single most
important political — ideological default mechanism in global conflict. Yet, the Western
world seems reluctant to address this reality. Some scholars maintain that the Western
world has been self-blinded to the reality of global religious issues clinging to an illusionary
vision of a “secular” state and thereby unable to provide a full explanation of contemporary
warfare. Conversely, others contend that the Western world is only too aware of
history and shudders at the tragic mistakes of past generations.
Leaders from each major religious tradition vigorously reiterate that the purpose of
religion is love and peace, not killing. Nevertheless, each and every religion is, in fact, an
ideology that provides comprehensive ideals for life and principles that govern both life
and death. This is a universal premise that includes all religions in all times and in all
places. No longer can any faith-based community afford to compartmentalize its thinking
about religion and conflict but must seek sound principles based in systematic investigation
and spiritual awareness.
“A man with an idea is more powerful than 100 men with interests,” according to John
Locke, but when ideas and interests combine, the chemistry may be lethal. The combination
of religious ideology and group interests are becoming an increasingly potent force in
Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and even the Americas. As the world’s hegemonic power,
the United States has been involved in these conflicts most notably in the Balkans, Somalia,
Afghanistan, and Iraq. In each of these cases, religious factors were a significant part
of the enemy’s motivation, intent, capabilities, and goals. In addition, global terrorism is
increasingly characterized by violence perpetuated by individuals and small groups, with
religious motivation, using non-conventional weapons, choosing symbolic targets, and
judging success by obedience to God. 492
As groups fight each other and the US becomes increasingly engaged on a global
scale, a grim picture emerges of the largely conventional forces of the single world
492 Douglas Johnston, in Religion: the Missing Dimension of Statecraft (Oxford University Press, 1994) and
Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik (Oxford University Press, 2002), makes the point that the religious
factor is regularly overlooked in the analysis of both war-making and peace-making.
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